ENGINEERS ended Lodge Farmers’ five-game winning run and secured the Swan Studley Skittles League title for the fifth time as Dave Green had a field day when making his highest score of 46 (16-stack) in more than 40 years of skittling.
It was yet another big team total for Engineers as Brandon Kelso chipped in with 39 (13-stack) and skipper Andy Clewlow 37.
Despite Lodge Farmers also scoring well, only two points from the game was their scant reward, with the best efforts coming from Tim Jones (38) and 35 each from Chris Prichard and Glyn Morley.
Alcester Nomads look favourites to finish runners-up, but will need a good result in their final game against the new champions.
They will not want another scare as they had against bottom team Swingers, who won the first two legs, shared the third, were still ahead going into the last legs and finally left Nomads a tricky 61 pins to win.
All Nomads’ players then produced consistent bowling to secure a far from comfortable victory as Tony Moore made 45 (13-stack) and Mac Eaton and Eddie Upright 35 each.
Swingers had Paul Clifton and Norman Sutton (11-stack) scoring 37 each and there were 35 pins apiece for Daren Harman and Tony O’Connor.
In completing a rare season’s double over Jumbo Jet Set, Well Developed continued to maintain this season’s improvement and could yet take fourth spot.
They were 22 pins ahead after two legs and, although losing the third leg, kept their grip on the game to win easily as Ron Skidmore made 35 and David Searle and Pauline Withers 34 each.
Only Mick Stanton with 40, Len Quartly (36) and Geoff Turrell and Pete Battle-Welch with 33 each made any notable scores for Jumbos.
Swan produced a good total and ended a six-game losing run to see off Team BG. Swan narrowly pinched the first two legs but then pulled away quickly from Team BG, who have now suffered five successive defeats.
In-form for Swan were Dave Maule with 38, Helen Racki (35) and Andy Reynolds (34). Team BG newcomer Jordan Johnson scored 35 and team-mates Mary Withers 33 and Margaret Sanders 32.
Alley Cats sprang a surprise in beating Chris & Gerry Show, who led by ten pins after leg one.
The Cats then clawed their way back into the game as they took the next three legs to lead by 19 pins before C&G Show left Alley Cats needing 54 pins to win.
Alley Cats were unfazed and, with steady scoring, ran out comfortable winners. Their best came from Sam Billyard (40) and Moira Gazeley and Anne Harrison with 33 each.
C&G Show responded through John Hall’s 39 (13-stack), Dave Charlesworth (36) and Arthur Sears (33).
Results: Engineers 9 (351) Lodge Farmers 2 (333); Chris & Gerry Show 3 (292) Alley Cats 8 (303); Alcester Nomads 7.5 (319) Swingers 3.5 (308); Well Developed 8.5 (316) Jumbo Jet Set 2.5 (296); Team BG 1 (292) Swan 10 (330).
